Keep it simple! Tomorrow sees the start of December (2023) which for many brings with it lots of stress! Well, here is one idea to help you create a perfect quick and easy platter sure to please everyone. Now, the idea here is to keep it simple, so I would suggest just pulling everything suitable out of your fridge, grabbing…
Waste not want not! This was not a planned recipe! Well, not entirely, but when you are gifted 4 packs of celery, correction, frozen celery (yes, that is a thing), then experimentation commences! Now, celery is not something I often buy because there are many other foods I’d rather spend my money on, but I do eat it… sometimes! I’ve…
#GBBO Party Week If you are watching the Great British Bake Off (#GBBO) you will know that this week was party food week. There is so much choice for party foods, but pastries always seem to make an appearance! Now, I am a bit fussy when it comes to pastry, and much prefer the filling, even if it’s a crispy,…
Homemade is easier than you think! I used to be very scared of making soup! My late Mum always used to make what she called ‘big soup’ which basically meant, that was dinner! You might wonder how a soup could be a whole meal, but Mum’s soup was packed full of loads of vegetables and was served with hunks of…
Aubergine aka Eggplant! Aubergine, also known as eggplant, is a versatile vegetable that is often overlooked without a thought. Many people have strong opinions about this intriguing vegetable, often avoiding it through previous bad experiences. Maybe you have discovered its spongy texture or its reputation for being a tasteless, bitter, or seemingly difficult vegetable to work with. Perhaps you have…
Chocolate & Pumpkin Cookies! If there is a way to encourage you to eat your pumpkin, then adding chocolate has to be one of the best ways! Would you agree? This recipe was created after I tried very hard to convince someone that painting or stickering, rather than carving a pumpkin is the new way to go! Chocolate is the…
October! This time of year is becoming much more popular in the UK and already I have driven past several fields full of orange, white, green, yellow and stripy pumpkins and squashes of varying shapes and sizes! Hopefully, the days of carving an orange pumpkin, then discarding it are behind us all and you are a bit more #FoodSavvy with…
Chana Saag! When you open the fridge and realise that everything needs peeling, chopping and cooking, but you are hungry right now so think you’ll reach for the biscuits instead… remember this recipe! If you follow this blog, you might know that chickpeas are one of my staple store-cupboard ingredients as they are so versatile, full of protein and quick…
Poached Pears! I am surprised! I am funny with pears! I am a bit of a pear snob, only electing to eat one particular variety and only if they are almost rock solid! Why then, would I even try this recipe? Well, there are only so many pears you can eat raw and I just thought I would have an…
Chop Suey! This is something I might have when we order a Chinese takeaway (along with Salt & Chilli tofu) so when my friend said she had some fresh beansprouts going spare this was the obvious choice. When I say some, well, let’s just say big supermarket could you order less please!!! Of course, if you’re yet to check out…
End of summer As the weather changes and the summer weather changes to autumnal vibes, it is all too easy to suddenly forget about buying and eating salad in favour of root vegetables and squashes. However, for a quick lunch when the weather is still warm but a bit grey and drizzly, adding something to ‘pimp’ your salad can make…
Sfenj! Whatever goes in in the world, people still manage to carry on and just get on with things! This week a recipe was shared with me for these Moroccan pastries. Whilst a literal translation is likely to bring up ‘donuts’, or indeed ‘sponge’ these are basically rings of unsweetened fried dough. As you may know, I prefer my foods…
Tastier & Easier than you think! I know tofu is a bit like marmite, but once you’ve discovered how easy this is to make and how tasty it can be, you will thank me! You might be thinking that my easy, and your easy are very different things, but this really is much simpler than you would expect! Of course,…
Fresh fig tart! What do you get if you have a load of figs and a spare roll of puff pastry? You get the most delicious dessert ever! Okay, so fresh figs off the tree are one of the most delicious desserts and yes, do eat them like that too but make this dessert and wow! Just wow! This dessert…
Summer produce! If you are fortunate enough to have space to grow your own fruit and vegetables, likely is, if you’re in the UK, you are now starting to see all those green tomatoes starting to turn orange, then red, ready for picking. Maybe you have gone fancy with stripy tomatoes, or even tried your hand at growing black tomatoes…
Coconut & chocolate lollies. What says summer more than ice cold lollies? If you’re in the UK, you’ll be well aware that sunny summer days are very few and far between, so we have to make the most of them before they slip away! With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can easily create these delicious lollies to capture…
Corn Ribs! You may have seen corn ribs on menus recently and wondered what they are and if they are worth it? Well, let me tell you, this is definitely a superior way to cook corn! The extra preparation to make these is totally worth the effort and I recommend you go get some corn right now! As with most…
Apple Turnovers! If you are the more experienced side of forty years old, you may remember that choice in supermarkets used to be very limited. Independent shops were everywhere and you visited the greengrocer, the butchers and the bakers to get your vegetables, meat and pastries. Of course, you can still do that today and I would definitely encourage supporting…
Soup in summer! You may think that soup is only for the Winter months, but when you have a glut of homegrown produce, soup is a great easy nourishing meal to make. In the UK, it is time for courgettes (zucchini), aubergines and beans to be harvested, with some tomatoes and peppers almost ready too! What a fantastic way to…
Summer! In the UK, as soon as the sun comes out, the air is filled with the smell of charcoal as people get their barbecues out. If you’re like us, the sun just makes it so we can sit around outside – the barbecue works on dull days too! Sometimes we just use the barbecue to cook dinner – whatever…
Thai style yellow curry If you’ve been following my blog for some time, you may recall that I used to have a very different idea of making curry! What I’ve since discovered is that they are really easy if you know what you’re doing! This Thai style yellow curry was a new method to me, but it is certainly one…
Chermoula. This fantastic sauce is such a versatile ingredient, I wonder why it has taken me so long to use it! You can use this Chermoula as a dip, a sauce or a marinade. You can eat it as it is, or you can cook it. You can spice it up or leave the spice out. Traditionally this is a…
Quinoa Pudding! The word ‘pudding’ means different things to different people. You might instantly think of a suet based pie as a pudding? Perhaps, you buy one of the range of flavours of something called ‘puding’ in a packet which you make up like a blancmange or custard? Maybe, like me, ‘pudding’ is a word associated with a milky dessert…
Summer weather is perfect for salads! Sometimes it’s easy to stick with what you know and that’s where this Greek salad comes in! If you’ve ever holidayed in Greece, the Greek Islands, Cyprus or even Turkey, likely you have eaten this tasty salad full of delicious fresh produce. Of course, there will always be variations and it is common to…
Failsafe baking! Today I was going to share a recipe for ice-cream, as the weather has been lovely and warm recently in the UK, but the problem is, taking photos! So, instead I decided to share a few of our regular go-to failsafe recipes we use all the time! The recipes There are two bakes we make all the time,…
Bite sized desserts Sometimes, especially when the weather is hotting up (we’ve had 29c in UK this week), it’s nice to have mini individual desserts. Two things make bite sized desserts preferable over larger ones (or maybe 3); firstly, they look presentable at all times, secondly they are very easy to customise for each persons preferences and thirdly, they are…
Super speedy burgers. Sometimes it is all too easy to click a few buttons on your phone and order a takeaway when you are too tired to cook and fancy a burger! I’m sure I’m not the only one who has spent a small fortune thinking I am being clever, then immediately being disappointed when a sub-par burger in a…
Snack Bars How often do you need a snack to tide you over between meals? Do you always throw a snack in your bag or car before you go out? Are you the one who always wants something to snack on mid morning or mid afternoon, or even late at night? Maybe you are an emotional eater? Do you open…
We are all different! Of course we are all different, but what has that to do with cooking something easy? Well, for one, what I think is easy might be very complicated to you, likewise, what you think is quick, might take me forever! Classifying easy If I knew the answer to that, I would be able to complete everything…
Asparagus! At this time of year in the UK, you are likely to see asparagus on menus as the short season arrives. You may be familiar with lightly steamed green asparagus served as part of brunch dishes, or served as a side for dinner, but this vegetable comes in three main colours: green, white and purple. All the varieties are…
Use what you have! With the prices of food steadily increasing, now more than ever many people are finding they have less money to spend on everyday items. That said, there is still tonnes of food thrown away daily, either through lack of planning or awareness of the issues. How much food do people throw food away? Food waste is…
Coronation Weekend This weekend (Saturday, May 6th 2023), the UK will celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. Although for many people, it is just an extra day off (an new Bank Holiday has been added on Monday 8th May), others are planning events to commemorate the occasion. The event will have significant television and radio coverage as the new…
Blueberry Pie Day! If you are in the USA this may come of no surprise, but here in the UK blueberry pie is something you may not have heard of, let alone tried! Every year, 28th April (this year on Friday) marks National Blueberry Pie day! Well, I love blueberries and I love pie, so I thought absolutely we will…
Eid! This weekend will see the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. Once the new moon is sighted, the festival of Eid will start. Eid is a major religious holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world and is a time for celebration, feasting, and gift-giving. This year (2023) it is expected to be on Friday 21st April or…
Beans. What do you think of when you think of beans? How about when you think of beans on toast? If I asked about a jacket potato and beans? If you are in the UK, likely is, there is a certain brand of beans in a tin you will think of whenever you think of beans! Of course, there is…
Chocolate. Today as this is typically known as Easter week, I had great plans of sharing some chocolate recipes with you… but I might have eaten everything I made before they saw the camera! Instead, I will give you a very quick easy and tasty recipe for some nutty chocolate truffles! Chocolate Truffles by Pelageia Zelenina on Pexels The Chocolate…
Fruits. How often do you buy fruit with all the good intentions in the world, but then forget about it until it’s getting past its best? Well, I have a solution for you! Go and check out your fruit bowl now. Open your fridge and see what you have hiding in there! Take it all out and put it in…
Scones. Sometimes, I want something savoury that’s quick to prepare, but not necessarily toast (with Marmite)! This weekend was one of those occasions and after a very quick think, I decided to whip up a batch of these delicious cheese scones! Made with just a few simple ingredients, including vegan cheese, butter, milk and flour, these scones are so quick…
Potatoes! Potatoes are one of the most versatile and beloved vegetables in the world. They are a staple in many diets and can be prepared in a multitude of ways. Whether you prefer them baked, fried, mashed, boiled, or roasted, potatoes are a delicious addition to any meal. If you are vegan, potatoes can be a great source of nutrition…
Tempted by a Challenge? This morning I joined a discussion about adding more plant based foods into the diet and the #eat30 challenge was mentioned. Before you get in a panic and think I am going to suggest you eat 30 different portions of fruit and vegetables in a day, haha (could you?) let me explain. This challenge is not…
Vegetable Shortages! As I have been vegetarian for well over 30 years and a vegan food blogger for several of those, I am generally able to create a recipe from whatever vegetables I have on hand. Sometimes, I forget that other people need ideas and inspiration, and this blog post idea was a request from one of my lovely friends…
Pancake day. Happy Pancake Day! Today Tuesday 21st February 2023 is Pancake Day! Also known as Shrove Tuesday, this is an annual event celebrated in the UK and several other countries around the world. The tradition of eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday dates back to the Middle Ages when people would use up ingredients like eggs, milk, and sugar before…
Happy Valentine’s Day! Today is a day to celebrate love, in all its forms. Whether you are in a relationship, single, or simply enjoy the love you have for yourself and those around you, this is a day to embrace and appreciate all that love brings into our lives. For those in relationships, Valentine’s Day can be a special opportunity…
World Pizza Day Tomorrow, Thursday 9th February 2023, is World Pizza Day! 🍕 Pizza, as a universally loved food, has many different variations around the world and this day is dedicated to celebrating all things pizza! I apologise to my Italian friends who have their own Pizza Day in January – feel free to join in this one too! How…
Yorkshire Pudding Day! Well, did you know there was such a thing!? Apparently, the first UK Yorkshire Pudding Day was in 2007, and it is now observed annually on the first Sunday of February. This year, it falls this weekend, on Sunday 5th February 2023. History of the Pudding The history of Yorkshire puddings can be traced back to the…
What is Burns Night? Burns Night is a traditional Scottish holiday that celebrates the life and poetry of Robert Burns, the country’s national poet. If you’re following a vegan lifestyle, or partaking in Veganuary, you may be wondering how to celebrate this holiday without eating any animal products. There are always alternatives of course and there are plenty of delicious…
Year of the Rabbit. Chinese New Year is a time for celebration and delicious food, and as it falls in Veganuary this year, you will probably discover several new plant-based options in the shops that are perfect for this special occasion. However, if you wish to make your own special feast, have a look at these ideas. What is Chinese…
Change your habits! This week I have had several conversations with people trying to restrict what they eat post festive season. Then in the next breath, they have moaned about the food they are missing out on! So, why not try something different instead? When it comes to eating better, most people worry about the little details: Yet they eat…
Make it easy! A little bit of simplicity to make our days easier is something we can all do with from time to time. If you are yet to buy a slow cooker – or dig it out from the back of the cupboard, you really should think about it! A slow cooker is just as it says – it…
Get ready! The new year is coming! Now is the time to think about your plans, your life and moving forward. 2022 is almost over and I for one am looking forward to what lies ahead! Planning. It is time to plan for the future! Your future! Yes, I will add in the fail to plan, is planning to fail!…
Season’s Greetings! Thank you all for your continued support, reading, commenting, liking and sharing my posts. I am hoping if you are celebrating Christmas that you already have your menu planned! Here a few suggestions if you are still pondering though! The main event! You could make your own plant based meat substitute or if nuts are more your thing,…
Baking to do. If you are anything like me, you have 101 things to be getting on with at this time of year, so I will try to keep this short! Of course, one of those things includes baking and at this time of year, besides anything and everything mincemeat, it has to be cookies! Dreaming of the delicious aromas…
Time. This time of year there are so many things to be getting on with that sometimes everyday food almost gets forgotten! There are cards to write (oops)! Presents to buy. Decorations to put up. Invites to respond to. Nativities, concerts and pantomimes to attend! Or maybe assignments to finish and exams to take. There are travel plans, dinner menus…
Winter is here. December is here and as well as all the seasonal foods, decorations and activities, it also brings the colds, coughs and flu. This year, keep yourself and your loved ones healthy and well by looking ahead. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure and these health shots give a great natural boost to your immune…
Cost of Living Crisis. Whether you are personally affected, or if you are concerned about someone who might be, it is fair to say this is being talked about. Maybe you think the rising costs are just a part of life and you’re okay, but you can still do your bit for food waste! Food is one of those commodities…
All grown up! This week is all about reminiscing. Thinking about all the good times that have been had over the last eighteen years! Yes, finally my little boy is going to be an official adult! So we need cake! Of course we need cake! Over the years we have had photo cakes, themed cakes, sporty cakes, chequered cakes, and…
Mushroom Houmous This week I thought I would try something new! Of course, if mushrooms are something you prefer to leave, then try my regular houmous instead! Why mushroom houmous? Well, as many of you know, I hate food waste, and when I saw loads of mushrooms available on the food sharing app Olio, I had to rescue some! Many…
Find your ideal sleep schedule. Today we are going to talk about sleep! What is that I hear you say? Oh yes, I am with you there! Whether you have young children who wake you up several times a night; older (noisy) children who keep you up late; a pet that decides to sit on your face in the middle…
Crispy Squares. Sometimes a little bit of reminiscing is a great thing! When I was younger, we used to make all kinds of sweet foods. One of my favourites that my late Mum used to make was a crispy chocolate cereal base topped with angel delight. Apt for this time of year, it was usually a green topping (mint flavoured),…
Pumpkins! Green pumpkins! White pumpkins! Yellow pumpkins! Stripy pumpkins! Okay, and orange pumpkins! Firstly, if you have a pumpkin field, farm or farm shop near you. Go and have a look! There are so many different varieties of pumpkin, each with their own unique flavour profile. Some pumpkins (aka squash) taste like courgette, some like marrow (there’s other things I…
Cream of Greens. Have you ever tasted a deliciously creamy soup and wished you could replicate it? I have discovered, that many people are too scared to make their own soup, and I myself recently witnessed a very poor attempt. However, once you have the know how, you will wonder why you ever bought all those tins, cartons and packets!…
Pie! Last week I hosted my annual Macmillan coffee morning. Firstly, thank you if you attended, or if you donated, or both! As usual I thought we needed more food, so of course, I had a few spare ideas ready just in case. So I had made a pastry case. It was pre baked and ready. It needed filling. Of…
Macmillan Coffee Morning If you are in the UK, you are probably aware that the end of September is always when Macmillan Cancer Support host their coffee morning weekend. If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you will know that it has become an annual event for us. You can check out our 2020 Macmillan coffee morning here,…
Jam. When I think of jam, I think of strawberry jam spread on toast, or raspberry jam tarts, neither of which I have ever enjoyed! Growing up, we were more a Marmite on toast family, with a giant jar always in the cupboard. Or, we had cheese on toast, or beans on toast. I think jam in our house was…
Cake. There is always time for cake. Cake for birthdays. Coffee morning cakes. Cake for parties. Afternoon tea cakes. Cake for bake off! So, the Great British Bake Off is back for another series so today I’m sharing a current recipe with you! Red Velvet cake is ‘velvet’ due to the texture of the crumb being softer than a traditional…
Custard. Custard is something which is made quite often in our house! Usually, it is to pour over a crumble or a sponge pudding. Occasionally it is to make banana-custard and sometimes it is just to eat as it is! My late Mum taught me how to make egg free custard at an early age, so it is something which…
Soup. If you are a regular reader, you may have wondered why I have not posted at my regular time! I have spent most of the day in bed today – nursing my poorly tooth and trying to sleep! Soup, so it seems, is one of the only things I can manage to eat! I had this soup made for…
Tomatoes & Peppers. Summer in the UK usually brings an abundance of tomatoes, cucumbers and courgettes, but the recent hot weather has also brought peppers too! Whilst eating freshly grown produce raw in salads and sandwiches is fantastic, sometimes you can have too much of a good thing, and need a few ideas to switch things up! My tomato plants…
Jammy Flapjacks. This delicious recipe was created as I just wanted something different! Do you ever get that feeling when you have no idea what you want to eat? I just wanted something sweet, easy to make and suitable for everyone, hence, this delicious jammy flapjack was created. This recipe can be dairy free, gluten free and vegan so it’s…
Self Care. Sometimes, we get so busy looking after everyone else, we forget about ourselves! I would like you just to think about that. Just for a minute. What have you done for you today? Maybe you are all about you and have already had your ‘me’ time. Perhaps you are so busy at work, or looking after others, that…
Chia Seeds. If you are in the UK, you may recall chia seeds as quite a recent product. When I showed one of my friends them however, she remembered having them daily in her home country about 30 years ago! Chia seeds were until recently, always imported, but now they have been grown successfully in the UK. What do I…
Picnics. Pack a picnic and head outside! Go to a park, a beach, a forest, even round a friends or in your own garden or allotment! Grab your food, plenty of drink, weather appropiate gear – hats and suncream or wellies and raincoats! Off you go! The Picnic Contents! Anything! Yes, absolutely anything goes on a picnic! You might automatically…
Healthy Ice-Cream Yes! You can most definitely have those two words – healthy, and ice-cream in the same sentence! You can even add in delicious if you wish! Of course, you can have regular ice-cream as part of a well balanced diet, but this recipe gives you a health boost too! The Ice-Cream Recipe The main ingredient of this ice-cream…
A contradiction? Today, I am leaving this open for discussion! Positivity Are you a positive person or a negative person? Have you ever thought about it? How would your friends and family describe you? Do you see the good in everything? Do you always notice the bad things? Are you great at seeing both sides of the story? Language Your…
Salads. Hopefully you are way past the thought of salad being lettuce, tomato and a slice of cucumber, possibly with a sprinkle of cress! Maybe you are in the next stage where you add a bit of carrot, sweetcorn, beetroot, pepper or onion – a bit like a cheap and cheerful restaurant salad bar. Either way, both are good for…
Homegrown greens. Now is growing season! Whether you have an allotment, a vegetable patch, or a window box, now is when you start seeing all your efforts rewarded. Some things, grow much quicker than others and any type of greens is one of those things! The great thing about allotments, apart from the obvious space, is that other plot holders…
Hidden veg! When you think of hidden vegetables in cake, you might automatically think of carrot cake. Well, that carrot is not so hidden but it does make for a really delicious cake! If you look back at historic cake recipes, you will find there are numerous many recipes which use vegetables. I used to use a delicious chocolate mud…
Easy vegetable dish. Well… this was something unexpected and different even for me! Someone asked me if I wanted some ‘salad’ that had been left and thinking the guinea pigs would like it I thought that was an unexpected bonus. The ‘salad’ however was three (yes three)! pointed head cabbages! Not entirely what I was expecting, but having just heard…
Happy Jubilee Weekend! Happy Jubilee Weekend everyone! In the U.K. it is a long weekend with not one, but two bank holidays, starting today Thursday 2nd June 2022. This special weekend is to celebrate the reign of the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II. 70 years! Take that in! Congratulations Your Majesty! There are so many events planned over this…
Strawberries, Cream & Cake. Locally grown strawberries have begun to appear in the shops here and what is more perfect them piling them on a cake! Whilst the taste of shop bought strawberries is less superior than ones grown at home, they do still smell and taste of Summer. Strawberries and cream seem to go together so well but do…
Mushrooms. This week I have had several people tell me about their dislike for mushrooms! Now, I do get it. Well, maybe. In a way I get it. If you give me tinned button mushrooms heated up in the microwave, then I’m totally with you! A bowl of tepid mushroom soup will make me understand too. Perhaps if you feed…
Cauliflower. This easily recognisable and widely available vegetable is much more versatile than you think! Gone are the days when cauliflower is just boiled in a pan, the result being a mush of white non-descript food. Cauliflower is one of those vegetables which soaks up flavours and can be prepared in so many different ways. Are you aware that cauliflower…
Rhubarb. If you are in the UK and you have previously planted rhubarb, you will likely have already seen it growing. I have already picked two lots of rhubarb… when I say lots, that’s over 50 stalks a time! Rhubarb is one of those things that just seems to get on with it whether you remember it or not! If…
Biryani. Biryani used to be something which I only ever saw on restaurant menus. I would be very confused when I ordered it and received vegetable curry and vegetable rice! I never understood what biryani was then! Anyway, a few decades later and I know now that biryani is a rice dish! A very tasty rice dish! I am posting…
Energy Balls. A quick and easy snack recipe for you today. I love making these protein snacks and vary the ingredients depending on what I have in and what I feel like eating. No recipe as such, instead some energy ball ideas to get you experimenting! If that scares you and you feel like you need a bit more help,…
Hot Cross Buns. The aroma of a traditional hot cross bun is something which is easy to recognise and instantly makes you think of Easter. When I was growing up, I remember my best friends Mum making Hot Cross Buns and we would wait patiently for the fruity spiced buns to be ready. Of course, I always wondered why she…
Take five! Sometimes. We all need a break. Sometimes we just need to step back from all the craziness the world throws at us. Sometimes, coffee and cake, or tea and biscuits is what we need. Feelings This week someone told me that when asked about my feelings, I talk about everyones except my own. So, how are you today?…
Vegan Burgers. The great thing about vegan burgers is the fact that you can use almost any ingredient and create something which resembles a burger. Usually, I would use a tofu, bean or chickpea base to bind my ingredients together, this time I have used oats. Mushrooms are a great ‘meaty’ substitute and I often chop a handful, fry them…
Mothering Sunday In 2022 in the UK, Mothers Day, or Mothering Sunday as it is officially known falls on Sunday 27th March. Mothers Day is a time to celebrate everything Mum! All the things Mum helps you with, the things she does for you, the advice she gives you. Whether you call your Mum, Mum, Mother, Mummy, Mom, Mommy, Ma,…
Oats. Rolled oats, porridge oats, steel cut oats, pinhead oats, whatever you call your oats, one thing is sure, they are good for you! Oats are traditionally seen as a carbohydrate, but they do contain a healthy amount of protein too! Oats also contain fibre called beta-glucan which helps you feel fuller, slows the rate of digestion and can also…
Garlic Bread. In our house, we often have garlic bread with a lasagne or spaghetti bolognese. This is something I have grown up with and never questioned it until recently, when an Italian friend told me this was something they never did! Italians do however, rub cut garlic on bruschetta and maybe add a drizzle of olive oil. Apparently, what…
Avocado. Guacamole is something we make quite a bit at home, often without a recipe, just adjusting as we go until it tastes delicious. You might be thinking, but avocado? Yes, as much as I love guacamole, I am definitely a marmite on my toast kind of girl! To me, an avocado should only be eaten mixed with something else!…
Swedish Meatballs aka Vegan Burgers As with most things in the Life Diet Health kitchen, these started out without a clue what they would become! After tasting the diced vegetables as they cooked, I knew with that wonderful flavour they could easily become something much greater than the bolognese I had planned. So my dinner plans went out the window…
Cream of Broccoli Soup Soup is one of those foods I find that many want to make, but are either too scared it will be tasteless, or think it is too time consuming. I recall in my younger days I was totally amazed how my late Mum could make a soup so much tastier than what came out of a…
Valentine’s Ideas It is the time of year again when everywhere around us there are adverts for chocolates, flowers, perfume and jewellery. If you are in love, particularly a new love, this one day in the year can potentially make or break your relationship. Those in a long term relationship appear to have very differing views. Some people see it…
Handheld pies Sometimes, you just need something easy to eat. Cornish pasties are one of those foods which I grew up with. My late Dad used to love a Cornish Pasty. It was something easy to transport, easy to eat and very filling. I think it is one of the few things I only ever saw him eat one at…
Easy Pasta One of the foods cooked most often in my house, is probably pasta. At least once, if not two or even three times a week, pasta is requested! When you are short of time and want something quick, easy, cheap and filling, pasta is the answer! Any type of pasta can be used, just use whatever you have.…
Comfort Foods I have some lovely new recipes to post including some vegan kofte, a vegetable hotpot, a cheesy topped pie and a few others, but the lack of good daylight means my photos leave a lot to be desired! So, today we will take a look back at some previous recipes. As the weather in the UK is still…
Soup Weather, perfect for Veganuary For those of us in the UK, the weather is definitely cold enough to be classed as soup weather! I already have several soup recipes on here, but this recipe is a new one I have recently created and taken a liking to! The Soup Recipe This recipe has a base of carrots and red…
Little Gems! I know it is January and it’s more soup, stew, casserole and pie weather, but we still need to get our vegetables in for those all important vitamins and minerals. Now, I would not usually recommend what I am going to, but this is too good not to do! Why lettuce though? There is a food sharing app…
Goodbye 2021! At last 2021 has come to the end! For some it may have whizzed by like many another year, but if you sit and think of everything that has happened this year… you may find it has indeed stretched on for far too long! Those who know me will know the trials and tribulations that have come with…
Vegan Wellington Firstly, I would like to wish you all a wonderful festive season, full of happiness, laughter, and good health. The recipe I am sharing today is a great one for saving time! Why? This base recipe can be made for a delicious vegetarian or vegan base, then made into different dishes. Originally I was making a plant based…
Gingerbread Cookies It’s the season where everything is gingerbread flavoured! Happy me! I love gingerbread! The scent of them baking fills the air with a warmth and happy memories of winter holidays. Whether you make individual cookies or get adventurous and design your own gingerbread house, this recipe is perfect for a quick and easy ginger bake! The Gingerbread Cookie…
Warm Winter Salad There are so many seasonal recipes I could have posted, but I decided to go with a lighter healthier option and make a winter salad. I have used the Brussels sprout as the star of this dish and put different flavours together than I have before! These ingredients complement each other really well, and each brings its…
Oat Loaf I’m having a bit of a giggle to myself as I write this as my late Dad always used to say ‘use yer loaf’! Maybe it was because anything that needed fixing or building came so easily to him; or maybe I was just a bit slow responding to his requests of “butt the 2-by-2 up to the…
Cheese Straws Are you young enough to have grown up with cheese straws? Or were you more of the breadstick era? My late Mum always used to make cheese straws. I recall helping her roll out the dough then cutting sticks and circles, and circles within circles to create rings. The aroma that filled the kitchen when cooking was so…
Not Chicken One of my favourite vegan ‘meat’ alternatives has to be chicken. Now, I’ve not actually eaten real chicken for over 30 years so I’m guessing I actually have no idea what it tastes like and I just like vegan chicken! I can eat it any way – sliced plain, tikka style chunks, breaded, battered, and anything inbetween. A…
Aubergines or Eggplants It always amazes me when people confuse aubergines with courgettes! So many times I have been asked at the checkout ‘these are courgettes right?’ or even asked ‘what are these?’ So, let’s get this straight. Aubergines are most often black or purple, shiny skinned and usually a bit bulbous. When buying you should look for bright and…
Parkin Parkin! My only why is because it is nearly Guy Fawkes night and I thought, for once, that I should try my hand at making some! I was trying to recall a time when I ate some. I wondered if it was something my late Mum used to make (I’m certain it is something my late Dad would have…
Pumpkin Recipe As it is pumpkin season and Halloween is this coming weekend, I thought I would make a special pumpkin recipe. When I did a quick search on my blog to see which recipes I already had, I was amazed to find there were already 8 pumpkin recipes on here! Why pumpkin recipes? Well, did you know in the…
Apple Day Today (Thursday 21 October 2021) is Apple Day in the UK! What is apple day? Founded in 1990, apple day was created to celebrate all things apples and orchards. In the UK, you will find many events celebrating this – often tied in with pumpkin activities too. Our local park has held an apple day for many years…
Pesto Pasta If there is one thing in our house made on repeat and at least once a week, it is pasta! We do make our own pasta when time permits, but having a jar of dried pasta in the pantry makes for a quick, tasty and easy meal. There are a few recipes which are used frequently, but pesto…
A new challenge this week as my friend Tina asked me to create her a new healthy recipe using fish! I wanted to make this recipe accessible to as many people as possible, so I have made it so very simple as a onepot dish! The flavours in this dish are reminiscent of a Portugeuse fish dish I had many…
Quinoa Lunch Bowl Quinoa is one of those foods which is still relatively new to the UK. If you are unfamiliar with the pronunciation it is ‘keen-wah’. Quinoa is a great nutritious food, full of protein – which is especially great on a plant based diet as it contains all 9 essential amino acids. This little wholegrain (althought technically a…
Comforting Carrot Soup This soup was created because firstly, I had spent the morning listening to soup ideas as the weather here has suddenly become very Autumnal. Secondly, I had lots of carrots that needed eating, and soup was the easy way to make them into something delicious! I was a bit surprised that my blog was missing a carrot…
Meat-Free Lasagne Lasagne is one of those dishes I grew up with. My late Mum used to make it quite often and I used to love the creamy sauce, the umami savoury layer and the crunchy edges of the pasta which had poked out the top and caught in the oven. Mum’s version was the traditional meat and cheese lasagne,…
Creme Caramel Growing up, this one one dessert my late Mum would make often. Instead of creme caramel, we used to call it Carmella – in fact, that’s what you will find me calling it at home. Whatever you call it, this is a smooth and creamy dessert which is very easy to eat! The caramel topping gives added depth…
Five different ways with tofu I used to think tofu was something I could live without! When I learnt how to prepare and cook tofu properly, I realised that tofu is tasty, versatile and definitely something I need! Here I am going to share five different ways with tofu which I hope you will love as much as I do.…
No-egg egg custard tarts These no-egg egg custard tarts came about by accident. I was looking in the fridge and I saw there was more milk than usual. Normally, I would make a cheese sauce to go with my vegetables, but as the weather has been warm, I have been eating salads. So, I decided to make custard instead –…
Enchiladas Enchiladas are something we eat a lot in our house! Apart from the fact that we love all Mexican food – especially loaded nachos and meat free chilli, enchiladas are a great food to please everyone. What are enchiladas? Traditionally, enchiladas are a Mexican food comprising of a soft corn tortilla, filled with meat, beans, potatoes and/or vegetables, covered…
Overnight Oats Quite some time ago, I started a Back to Basics section on here for foods which I am so used to making that I sometimes forget that others might not know where to start! In the winter I love my porridge, but now the weather is sunny, and although I love pancakes, sometimes you just need something quick…
I am a bread fiend! I love bread! Any type of bread! White bread, granary bread, thick bread, thin bread, toasted bread, crispy bread and naan bread. I created this recipe a while ago, and thought I would share it today – rather than not share a recipe at all! I have been busy and I almost… I said ‘almost’…
Banana Panna Cotta Bananas! I love bananas! I eat at least one every day, sometimes two, maybe even three! Bananas are a great snack food as they are ready to eat, give you a boost of energy and, contain potassium which (amongst other things) is needed for muscles (including the heart)! I’ve been playing with a different ingredient recently, and…
Two Bean Chilli This is an easily adaptable recipe which you can customise to your tastes and what you have in the fridge or pantry! I made this to go in a burger (yes, I really did)! as I wanted something different! Next time I’ll have it with a plain burger rather than a Jalapeno burger! I like spice. Just…
Cherry Blondies Cherries! I absolutely love cherries! When I lived in Budapest, I discovered their love of plump deep dark purple juicy cherries. Sold in paper bags at the side of the road, these cherries were absolutely glorious. Unfortunately, I am still to find any that even closely resemble these, but I still love cherries! Friday 16th July is National…
Chocolate & Pistachio Cookies Cookies are one of those things that I absolutely love. More than cake. If you search cookies on my blog, you will find loads of recipes for crunchy cookies, soft cookies, chocolate cookies, shortbread (does that count as a cookie?) and many more. Did you know you can use the recipe bar to see all similar…
Okra Curry Curry is one of those foods which I thought was only for buying from a take-away or restaurant. When a few of my Bengali friends explained their cooking methods to me, I decided to experiment and ever since then, I use curry as a quick and easy dish! You can use a blended spice mix for this (curry,…
Fruit Snacks Fruit is great as it is and any fruit snacks would always be my first choice, especially at this time of year when the berries are ripening in the garden right before your eyes! I have an abundance of strawberries and raspberries which even though I pick constantly seem to reappear hourly! Gooseberries, redcurrants and mulberries are on…
Tropical Vegan Cake I thought it was about time to have a new cake! There’s always a reason for cake! A birthday (yes mine)!; a thank you (yes, you!); coffee with a friend (who’s coming?); or just because you deserve it (that will be me too at the minute)! Why a tropical cake? Well, I thought I should try something…
No recipe today, just some flowers in memory of my late mother. Today (Thursday 10th June 2021) is her funeral service. Recipes will be back next week! (you can find an index of recipes here)! I love this song and Flowers were one of Mum’s favourite things. There were always flowers in the house, and in the garden. Here is…
How to make Green Vegetables everyone will love Green vegetables! We know we should eat more, but sometimes more kale is the last thing you fancy eating! Green vegetables are full of Vitamins such as A, C and K, and also contain iron, potassium, folate, calcium and a whole host of other nutrients! Green vegetables are often referred to as…
Super quick vegan Carbonara Dinnertime! How often do you say that? or hear that? Well, after a shopping trip at the weekend, where some fresh pasta was bought, that is what I heard! However, the fresh pasta of course, contained egg, so it was not for me! I needed something I could make quickly so we could eat together and…
Boost your daily energy with Chocolate Brownie Protein Cookies There are many times when people ask me where I get my protein from! Where do I start – there are so many many vegan sources of protein! You could have any nuts, seeds, pulses, grains, substitute meats, tofu and even vegetables! Did you know the garden pea has about 5g…
A very late in the day blog post! I will post a new recipe soon but I’ve been very busy! Have a look at these delicious traditional Eid Kulicha… These are all delicious pastries filled with a soft lightly spiced date paste. You can find the recipe here. Please drop me a comment below and let me know if my…
Miso Veg Sometimes, you just need to try something different to make you realise that actually you do like a certain vegetable! I have heard many people say they do not like aubergine and that astounds me! Sure, if you chop it up and boil it then I am totally in agreement with you! That is not how you cook…
Love these four fantastic ways with seasonal rhubarb Rhubarb is one of those fruits which I think is often overlooked. We have always grown rhubarb. We had it at home growing up, I have it in the garden and of course, I have a plentiful supply on the allotment! If you are looking for rhubarb recipe ideas, then keep reading!…
Happy Earth Day… What are you doing? Each year, 22nd April is classed as ‘Earth Day‘! 🌍 What? I hear you ask is Earth Day? Why do we need an Earth Day? What is it for? What can I do? Basically, Earth Day is to encourage everyone to take action on the environment and climate change. This affects everyone and…
Mouthwatering Minestrone soup you will love to make again and again This is one of those soups you will wonder why you have never made before! It does take a little bit of preparation time for chopping, but it is so worth it! This is a Mouthwatering Minestrone soup you will love to make again and again! I would suggest…
Two wafflelly good recipes for perfect waffles Waffles are one of those foods which I only ever used to have when out as I thought they were too fiddly to make! What I have learnt though, is you can make them similar to a pancake batter and bake them in a silicon mould in the oven. I do love pancakes…
